HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Hello everyone,

I'm not sure if this is an emergency or not, but I'm a hermit crab newbie. I recently "adopted" four hermit crabs for my son for Christmas. We have a 29 gallon crabitat set up with the works. Thank you so much, by the way for the amazing wealth of knowledge on this site! If I hadn't stumbled upon HCA and yadokarnation's Youtube videos during my extensive research, our poor babies would not have gotten a very good start.

Anyway, Olaf our largest PP was adopted about a week ago. He was in horrible conditions at the pet store (gravel for substrate, no moisture, pellet food and he was the only crab in a natural shell). Most of the tips of his legs are broken due to the gravel but his big claw is unharmed. Since he's been home, Olaf has been very slow and mostly wants to hang out in a hide with his legs sticking out of his shell. He doesn't seem unhealthy and I know hermies need some time to destress after the pet store.

Tonight, I finally got the crabitat to the perfect 80/80 for heat and humidity and he was super active for him! He actually even tried to climb (and then gave it up for a mossy jar to hide in, lol)! I noticed that he is starting to get these whitish stripes on his legs...almost like someone brushed him with wite out. Definitely doesn't look like mites...they aren't spots that move. Otherwise, he has brilliant reddish orange legs. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it sound like he's molting or sick?? Should I ISO him? Thanks in advance for the help.

Sounds like a molt sign. Do his eyes look cloudy and red-ish? Has he been pigging out or hanging out in the water dishes? Can you see any molt sacks behind his legs?

I did see him drink and eat tonight. First time I've noticed him eat but it was brief. He never leans far enough out of his shell to notice sacks. He did dig a little earlier today but didn't bury himself. Should I ISO him just in case?

PS: Can't tell much of a difference in the eyes, but I'll have to take another look. Thanks!

It sounds like he really needs to molt. If it really looks like solid, thick white out, like something that can be scratched off, can you positively say it wasn't like that at all before? I thought i was seeing bruising on one of my Es legs but it just turned outti be some marking that i hadnt noticed before.
Olaf might try to molt in that jar he likes so much. I don't think that's a problem, unless someone else likes that jar, too. If he does try to molt in the moss jar, i recommend you ISO the jar so as not to stress Olaf.
Great name


Crabbers unite!!!

Thank you! Yeah, I'm pretty sure he didn't have the markings before. I looked him over pretty thoroughly in the pet store and have held him and looked him over since. Poor guy practically jumped into my hand from his shell in the pet store. He hasn't really tried to change shells since he's gotten home though. I will set up the ISO tank asap. We got Little Grouchy, our smallest PP from another pet store a couple days before Olaf and he's already buried. I'm thinking he's molting already too. Spike is also starting to look sluggish. I fear pretty soon my son will be looking at a seemingly empty tank with four molters. Thank you for your help!

I noticed u mentioned yadokarination! I watched all of her videos and decided I wanted crabs! So she basically got me started! Then she introduced me to the hermit crab association and I fell in love with it!

Same here!